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MISSISSIPPI STATE BOARD OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCYMINUTESJune 18, 2020The Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy met telephonically on June 18, 2020,beginning at 10:00 a.m. The following record of that meeting was maintained.Board Members Present by TelephoneRick Elam, ChairDavid Bridgers, Vice ChairWilliam Kelly, SecretaryWillie Sims, Jr.Angela PannellMark PeachCharles PrinceBoard Staff Present at Board OfficeAndy Wright, Executive DirectorSharee Brewer, Associate Director, InvestigationsLegal Counsel Present at Board OfficeKen Walley, Special Asst. Attorney GeneralOthers Present by TelephoneEd Jones, MSCPA RepresentativeI. General1. The Board opened the meeting with an invocation from Charles Prince.2. The minutes from the May 8, 2020 meeting were approved.3
MSBPA MinutesJune 18, 2020I. General (Continued)3. The Board reviewed and approved tentative meeting/activity dates for 2020:June 18August 7 (Friday)September 17October 16October 17November 1-4December 17II. National Regulatory Concerns10:00 a.m. Board Meeting10:00 a.m. Board Meeting10:00 a.m. Board Meeting10:00 a.m. Board MeetingNew CPA CeremonyNASBA Annual Meeting10:00 a.m. Board Meeting1. The NASBA RECAP, May 19, 2020 was discussed.2. The NASBA State Board Report, Spring, 2020 (new quarterly version) wasdiscussed.3. The NASBA UAA Committee Rules Change Proposal was discussed. Noresponse by MS Board to UAA Committee.4. The Impact of Covid-19 on Peer Review: AICPA PRB was discussed.III. Administration1. The MSBPA Cash in Treasury, Funds 3845 and 3850, as of May 31, 2020 wasreviewed.2. The FY 2020 Budget to Actual Comparison – Fund 3845, for the elevenmonths ended May 31, 2020 was reviewed.3. The Board’s Report to the MS Society of CPAs was discussed.4. The Executive Director’s discussion of the purchasing of new laptopcomputers and the preliminary budget appropriation for FY 2021, was heard.5. Additional per diem days were approved.4
MSBPA MinutesJune 18, 2020IV. CPA Examination, Licensing & Firms1. The Board noted staff approval of 97 candidate applications (31 initial, 66reexam) for 134 Sections of the computerized CPA examination received sincethe May 8, 2020 meeting.2.The following actions on applications for CPA licenses, reciprocals,reinstatements, and CPA firm permits were unanimously approved by theBoard unless otherwise noted:Applications for Original CPA LicenseNameNumberBrady Ray Anderson7949Anthony Matthew Gladden7950Mason Glenn Herrin7951Madeline Howard Kirk7952John Clayton Nelson, Jr.7953Brett Austin Prather7954Ryan Clark Skelly7955Kathryn E. Whitman7956Thomas Singletary Wilson7957Applications for Reciprocal CPA LicenseNameNumberGretchen K. ArcherR7958Webster A. BairdR7959John Doyce GriffinR7960Todd D. MarionR7961Samuel Philip WheelerR7962Applications for Reinstatement of CPA LicenseNameWilliam Bryant ChristianAshley G. HerringtonJames R. Persons, ApprovedApprovedApproved5
MSBPA MinutesJune 18, 2020IV. CPA Examination, Licensing & Firms (continued)3. Applications (continued)Applications for CPA Firm Permit to PracticeNameGretchen K. Archer, CPACulver, PLLCHogan Taylor LLPScott Pitts CPA, PLLCAmendments to Registered FirmsNo.Name7261Baker Tilly US, LLPCity, StateOcean Springs, MSOakland, TNTulsa, OKByram, MSCity, StateChicago, ovedApprovedChangeName Change fromBaker Tilly VirchowKrause & Co.4. COVID-19 Issues Impacting Exam and Licensing were discussed.6
MSBPA MinutesJune 18, 2020V. Continuing Professional Education1. The Board members unanimously authorized the following actions on CPEsponsor programs applications submitted for approval.Sponsor/TitleCheckpoint Learning1.Ethics for Mississippi CPAsDavid Byers, Jr.1. Split Dollar Refresh: At the Intersectionof Politics and Planning (Estate Taxes)Gleim Publications, Inc.1. AICPA Code of Professional ConductMy-CPE LLC1. A Basic Ethics Guidebook for MississippiCPAsNail McKinney Professional Association1. Audits of 401(k) PlansSchool of Accountancy/Beta Alpha Psi/USM1. Accounting and Auditing UpdateDatesOnline SelfStudyVariousOnline SelfStudyOnlineSelf Study5/15/20208/13/2020Hours4 Ethics(3 General1 MS Rules)ActionApproved1.5Approved4 GeneralEthicsApproved8Approved4 Ethics(3 General1 Rules )Approved8ApprovedVI. Rules and Regulations1. Proposed Final Adoption of change to Rule 4.1.8.2. The Summary of Surrounding States’ Accounting Education Requirementswere discussed.3. The latest Committee Amendment to “Fresh Start Act” in SB 2759 wasdiscussed.7
MSBPA MinutesJune 18, 2020VII. Regulatory Matters1. The Board heard a report from Associate Director Sharee Brewer regarding theregulatory activities from May 8, 2020 to June 18, 2020:ActivityCases Opened Beginning of PeriodCases OpenedCases Closed ➀Cases Open End of PeriodOpen Cases Referred to MembersNumber3168292➀ Cases Closed:Case 2018.123 involved an individual licensee and firm permit holder who received a peerreview report with a fail rating on the firm’s engagement review of reviews issued. Thefirm signed a Stipulation and Consent Order which was approved by the full Board at theMay, 2020 meeting. The matter was then closed.Case 2018.127 involved an individual licensee and firm permit holder who received a peerreview report with a fail rating on the firm’s system peer review. The firm signed a ConsentOrder which was approved by the full Board at the May, 2020 meeting. The matter wasthen closed.Case 2019.24 involved an individual licensee and firm permit holder who received a peerreview report with a fail rating on the firm’s engagement review of compilations issued.The firm signed a Stipulation and Consent Order which was approved by the full Board atthe May, 2020 meeting. The matter was then closed.Case 2019.239 involved an individual licensee and firm permit holder who received a peerreview report with a fail rating on the firm’s engagement review of preparations issued.The firm signed a Stipulation and Consent Order which was approved by the full Board atthe May, 2020 meeting. The matter was then closed.Case 2020.001 involved a firm who had received a complaint of incompetence due to anerror being made on a complex tax matter. Investigation yielded an error was made whichwas acknowledged by the licensee. Investigative Committee determined that the error didnot meet the threshold of a violation of the Board rule addressing incompetence. Thematter was then closed.8
MSBPA MinutesJune 18, 2020VII. Regulatory Matters (continued)Case 2020.004 involved a sole proprietor firm who practiced for a few months on anexpired firm permit. During that time, attest work was completed. The firm was in the peerreview process and therefore appeared to Investigative Committee to have been anoversight. No false statements, previous complaints on firm and firm passed previous peerreview. Firm permit was reinstated at May, 2020 Board meeting and the matter was thenclosed.Case 2020.019 involved a sole proprietor firm referenced above in Case 2018.127. Caseopened and closed in LARS to allow the discipline to be reported against the individuallicense as well.2. Ms. Brewer then discussed the open cases presented on the active case log.9
MSBPA MinutesJune 18, 2020VIII. Trial BoardTrial Board Hearing:A Continuance Order to be requested was approved on Case 2019.217.(Kelly Investigative Committee)Consent Order:A Consent Order was approved on Case 2020.09 involving an individual licensee and firmpermit holder who performed an engagement for the State Board of Contractors which wasundeclared on the license renewals received by the Board on November 22, 2019. Due tono other violations being noted and licensee’s current status as unemployed, the ordercontains a civil penalty of 250.(Bridgers Investigative Committee)Stipulation and Consent Orders for Board Approval related to deficiencies noted inthe performance of work subject to Peer Review:A Stipulation and Consent Order was approved in Case 2019.240 involving an out of statefirm who received a peer review report with a fail rating on the firm’s system review whichincluded ERISA engagements. The firm has not performed any work subject to peer reviewfor any Mississippi-based clients. The order requires the firm to schedule an acceleratedpeer review with a date acceptable to the Board if they become engaged to perform auditsfor Mississippi-based clients in the future.(Pannell Investigative Committee)10
MSBPA MinutesJune 18, 2020APPROVED:ChairVice ChairSecretaryBoard MemberBoard MemberBoard MemberBoard Member11
Ken Walley, Special Asst. Attorney General . Others Present by Telephone Ed Jones, MSCPA Representative . I. General . 1. The Board opened the meeting with an invocation from Charles Prince. . Baker Tilly Virchow Krause & Co. 4. COVID-19 Issues Impacting Exam and Licensing were discussed. 7 . MSBPA Minutes June 18, 2020 . V. Continuing .
